Track Your Pooch or Cat with a GPS Collar

Dog tags are old-school and having a microchip imbedded in your pet is great if a pet goes missing. However, for an even better peace-of-mind, why not try a GPS collar? This holiday season, consider a splurge for your four-legged loved ones.

Veterinary News Network reports that one in every three pets will be lost at some point in their lives. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy, only 2% of lost cats and 20% lost dogs are returned to their owners.

Track Your Pet!

Animal microchips are typically the size of a rice grain that can be implanted by your vet. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a shelter or humane society they will scan for a chip that will list your contact information, your vet’s information, and other details. A GPS collar takes finding your lost pet to the next level.

Brands such as Garmin, SpotLight, and RoamEO have pet GPS products that help keep animals safe and give pet owners peace of mind. Typically you can monitor your pet’s location with a handset, but now you can also watch them with the help of your smartphone or computer. For instance, Positioning Animals WorldWide (PAW) has a iPhone app that works with Spotlight GPS collars.

These pet GPS systems have proven to be a miracle for owners who take long trips with their pets or if their four-legged friends are a bit mischievous. A honey, lab-shepherd mix named Houdini escaped from his foster home in Utah by pushing an air conditioner out a window. This lab decided to hang out in a vacant lot filled with brown weeds that camouflaged him. They never would have found him if it wasn’t for the GPS system.

So whether you miss your dog or cat over the holiday while you visit family out-of-state or your pet is a skilled escape artist, you should be able to keep an eye on your pet with a GPS collar.